§ 126-15General requirements.
§ 126-16Elevation and floodproofing requirements.
§ 126-17Design and construction standards.
§ 126-18Incorporation of UCC standards and specifications.
§ 126-19Development which may endanger human life.
Within the floodway, the following provisions apply:
Any new construction, development, use, activity or encroachment, including an enlargement or expansion of an existing structure, that would cause any increase in flood heights shall be prohibited.
No new construction or development shall be allowed unless a permit is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection.
In demonstrating compliance with the requirements of § 126-19, applicants should consult the following resources (as may be updated from time to time) for guidance:
Manufactured Home Installation in Flood Hazard Areas, FEMA-85.
Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damages, FEMA-348.
Current edition of the International Building Code.
Current edition of the International Residential Building Code.
ASCE 24.
34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405.
"Flood-Proofing Regulations," published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended March 1992).
Elevation and floodproofing requirements.
Within any identified floodplain area, any new construction or substantial improvement of a structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least 1 1/2 feet above the regulatory flood elevation.
No new construction or development shall be located within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse, unless a permit is obtained from the Department Environmental Protection.
Any modification, alteration, reconstruction, or improvement of any kind to an existing structure, to an extent or amount of less than 50% of its market value, shall be elevated and/or floodproofed to the greatest extent possible.
Space below lowest floor.
Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor is prohibited.
Partially enclosed space below the lowest floor, including crawl spaces, which will be used solely for the parking of a vehicle, building access, or incidental storage shall be designed and constructed to allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space;
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade; and
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
Water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning and ventilating units, washers, dryers, and other electrical, mechanical or utility equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood-protection elevation.
All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive or, in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in § 126-19, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood-protection elevation and/or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
Accessory structures. For purposes of this chapter, an "accessory structure" is a structure located on the same parcel of property as the principal structure and the use of which is incidental and subordinate to the use of the principal structure. Structures accessory to a principal structure or use need not be elevated or floodproofed to remain dry, but shall comply, at a minimum, with the following requirements:
The accessory structure shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall be limited to the parking of vehicles or to the storage of tools, equipment or material related to the principal use or activity of the property.
Floor area of the accessory structure shall not exceed 600 square feet.
The accessory structure shall have a low damage potential.
The accessory structure shall be located on the site so as to cause the least obstruction to the flow of floodwaters.
Power lines, wiring and outlets will be at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation.
Water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning and ventilating units, washers, dryers, and other electrical, mechanical or utility equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood-protection elevation.
All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive or, in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in § 126-19, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood-protection elevation and/or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
Sanitary facilities are prohibited.
The accessory structure shall be adequately anchored to prevent flotation or movement and shall be designed to automatically provide for the entry and exit of floodwater for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on the walls. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not loess than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space;
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade; and
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction and development proposed within any identified floodplain area:
Fill. If fill is used, it shall:
Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building line from all points;
Consist of soil or small rock materials only. No sanitary landfill materials are permitted;
Be compacted to provide the necessary permeability and resistance to erosion, scouring or settling;
Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal feet, unless substantiated data justifying steeper slopes are submitted to and approved by the Floodplain Administrator; and
Be used to the extent to which it does not adversely affect adjacent properties.
Placement of structures. All structures shall be designed, located and constructed so as to offer the minimum obstruction to the flow of water and shall be designed to have a minimum effect upon the flow and height of floodwater.
Anchoring.
All structures shall be firmly anchored in accordance with accepted engineering practices to prevent flotation, collapse lateral movement.
All air ducts, large pipes, storage tanks, and other similar objects or components located below the regulatory flood-protection elevation shall be securely anchored or affixed to prevent flotation.
Fuel supply systems. All gas and oil supply systems shall be designed to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters in the system and discharges from the system into floodwaters. Additional provisions shall be made for the drainage of these systems in the event that floodwater infiltration occurs.
The standards and specifications contained in the Uniform Construction Code, 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, as amended, and the 2003 International Building Code shall apply to the extent they are more restrictive or supplement the requirements of this chapter.
Any new or substantially improved structure which will be used for the production or storage of any of the following dangerous materials or substances; will be used for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply of more than 550 gallons, or other comparable volume, of any of the following dangerous materials or substances on the premises; or will involve the production, storage or use of any amount of radioactive substances shall be subject to the provisions of this section, in addition to all other applicable provisions. The following list of materials and substances are considered dangerous to human life:
Acetone.
Ammonia.
Benzene.
Calcium carbide.
Carbon disulfide.
Celluloid.
Chlorine.
Hydrochloric acid.
Hydrocyanic acid.
Magnesium.
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.).
Phosphorus.
Potassium.
Sodium.
Sulphur and sulphur product.
Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides).
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise regulated.
Within the floodway, any structure of the kind described in Subsection A above shall be prohibited.
Within any floodplain area, any new or substantially improved structure of the kind described in Subsection A above shall be prohibited within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
Where permitted within any floodplain area, any new or substantially improved structure of the type described in Subsection A above shall be:
Elevated or designed and constructed to remain completely dry up to at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year flood, in accordance with the standards for completely floodproofing contained in the publication "Flood-Proofing Regulations (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 1972, as amended March 1992), or with some other equivalent watertight standard. For purposes of this provision, "completely dry" means totally dry during flooding and designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water and water vapor.
